Harris E. Berenson Email & Phone Number

Worcester, Ma, Us

Greater Boston Area

Provide expert, thoughtful and experienced legal and regulatory leadership and support for Personal, Commercial and Specialty Lines of insurance business operations. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, responsibilities include legal support of product development and underwriting units, corporate compliance, various field, sales and marketing teams, corporate communications, regulatory and government affairs matters and general subject areas of expertise in the insurance industry. Lead government affairs in specific regions including regular interaction with state insurance departments, regulators, federal and state legislators and executive branch officials (including governors). Collaborate with and direct trade groups and lobbyists. Draft various transactional documents including agency agreements, PMA’s, CSAs, NDAs and vendor contracts for wholly owned programs business. Work collaboratively on compliance issues including market conduct examinations, rate, form and rule filings as well as internal audits of various business units. Manage outside counsel and budgets on matters including litigation, compliance and regulatory. Work collaboratively with Senior Management and Executive Leadership Team to identify and evaluate legal impact of significant issues and legal/regulatory developments where applicable law, regulations or facts are unclear, controversial or conflicting. Lead efforts to optimize company’s response, managing conflicting goals and other business considerations on variety of complex business and legal issues. Provide legal, regulatory, strategic and practical guidance on variety of business matters, including corporate acquisitions and compliance. Prepare legal documents, negotiate with outside parties, render timely and thoughtful opinions, consult with and advise clients/Senior Management/Executive Leadership Team and represent the company at variety of state and federal regulatory bodies. President's Service Award nominee 2017.

Managed legal operations for commercial property strategic business unit of Fortune 100 global property and casualty insurer as its Chief Counsel and member of Senior Leadership Team. Prepared and implemented individual and operational goals to achieve corporate objectives. Managed department consisting of attorneys and professionals handling litigation including coverage and defense, subrogation, marketing, engineering, underwriting, compliance, HR, corporate affairs and all other legal issues arising in daily operations. Developed framework and directed all legal aspects including licensing, talent acquisition and long range forecasting to create national business unit addressing new product offering. Worked collaboratively with Senior Management on variety of strategic initiatives and provide proactive business and legal recommendations, advice and counsel regarding same.

Provided counsel to global corporation providing loss control, risk management and assessment, property preservation engineering and research services, and property insurance to Fortune 500 companies. Managed complex multimillion dollar contract, tort, product liability and professional liability actions; negotiated contracts (including technology and license agreements); handled HR/Employment issues, litigation and compliance; devised and implemented management and employee training; drafted corporate policies and procedures; protected and defended corporate intellectual property; negotiated real estate interests; interviewed, retained and managed outside counsel and successfully reduced external legal spend; advised on Governmental regulations and provided statutory interpretation; responded to corporate subpoenas; advised management and business units on variety of corporate legal issues; managed Litigation Division in Asst. General Counsel’s absence; managed, provided advice and responded to domestic and international legal issues; prepared management reports and budgets.

Prepared and instructed courses in Legal Research & Writing, Contracts & Torts, U.S. Judicial Systems and Business Law in Certified Paralegal Program.

General civil practice emphasized complex commercial, contract and tort litigation; handled trials and hearings; drafted pleadings, motions and conducted discovery; advised corporate clients on all aspects of transactional matters.

Areas of concentration included corporate and business litigation; drafted pleadings and variety of legal memoranda; initial client contact and development; case management and analysis of a variety of legal issues.

Researched, analyzed and drafted judicial Orders in response to dispositive motions in numerous areas of Federal and State law; attended courtroom proceedings, bench conferences and hearings; conferred with Judge on variety of legal issues and procedures. Selected candidate for summer program.

Ba

Juris Doctor Cum Laude